Gemma 3 12B is $0.05 cheaper per 1M input tokens (55.6% lower; 2.25x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
Step 3.5 Flash vs Gemma 3 12B
Pick Gemma 3 12B for lower cost; pick Step 3.5 Flash only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick Gemma 3 12B for lower cost; pick Step 3.5 Flash only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Gemma 3 12B is estimated at $0.11 vs $0.24 for Step 3.5 Flash, saving $0.13 (56.2% lower).
Cost-first pickGemma 3 12B
Context-first pickStep 3.5 Flash
Sample savings$0.1356.2%
10x traffic gap$1.35
Step 3.5 Flash has more context, but Gemma 3 12B saves $0.13 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $1.35. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
Gemma 3 12B stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | Step 3.5 Flash | Gemma 3 12B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | Gemma 3 12B | $0.6 | $0.27 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | Gemma 3 12B | $0.39 | $0.17 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | Gemma 3 12B | $1.59 | $0.69 |
Gemma 3 12B is $0.17 cheaper per 1M output tokens (56.7% lower; 2.31x difference).
Step 3.5 Flash has 131.07K more context (2x larger).
Gemma 3 12B is $0.13 cheaper on the standard workload (56.2% lower).
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.
Quick Decision
Gemma 3 12B has the lower input price; Gemma 3 12B has the lower output price; Step 3.5 Flash offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Gemma 3 12B is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $0.24 for Step 3.5 Flash and $0.11 for Gemma 3 12B.
Choose Step 3.5 Flash when you care most about larger context window.
Choose Gemma 3 12B when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Gemma 3 12B is estimated at $0.11 vs $0.24 for Step 3.5 Flash, saving $0.13 (56.2% lower).
- Gemma 3 12B is $0.13 cheaper on the standard workload (56.2% lower).
- Gemma 3 12B is $0.05 cheaper per 1M input tokens (55.6% lower; 2.25x difference).
- Gemma 3 12B is $0.17 cheaper per 1M output tokens (56.7% lower; 2.31x difference).
- Step 3.5 Flash has 131.07K more context (2x larger).
| Feature | Step 3.5 Flash (StepFun) | Gemma 3 12B (Google) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $0.09 | $0.04 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $0.3 | $0.13 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $0.24 | $0.11 |
| Context Window | 262.14K | 131.07K |
| Release Date | ||
| Popularity | #43 | #123 |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | Gemma 3 12B | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Gemma 3 12B is estimated at $0.11 vs $0.24 for Step 3.5 Flash, saving $0.13 (56.2% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | Gemma 3 12B | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | Gemma 3 12B | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | Step 3.5 Flash | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- Gemma 4 31B (free) can replace Gemma 3 12B when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Gemma 4 26B A4B (free) can replace Gemma 3 12B when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Lyria 3 Clip Preview can replace Gemma 3 12B when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Lyria 3 Pro Preview can replace Gemma 3 12B when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Llama 4 Scout offers 10M context with $0.23 sample workload cost.
- Owl Alpha offers 1.05M context with $0 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash offers 1.05M context with $0.2 sample workload cost.
- MiMo-V2.5 offers 1.05M context with $0.28 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash · DeepSeek · #1
- Hy3 preview · Tencent · #2
- Claude Opus 4.7 · Anthropic · #3
- Claude Sonnet 4.6 · Anthropic · #4
Cheaper alternatives
Review low-cost models sorted by a standard 1M input plus 500K output workload.
Open cheapest modelsLarger context alternatives
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